Deck of a whaler showing try-worksWhales and whaling
pictures

Deck of whaler, showing try-works,
scraphopper, and utensils employed in trying-out oil, 1902.
The "try-works" were central to the work of whaling until
factory ships were built and more modern technology was
applied to the job of getting oil from blubber. They are
seen here as the rectangular chest-like structure amidships.
They were closed up when not in use.

Essentially very large simple cauldrons
heated by an enclosed fire separated from the deck by fire-bricks
and a shallow bath filled with sea water, the try-pots accepted
cut-up chunks of blubber from whales where the oil would
melt and be collected into barrels. When the skin or other
parts had given up all the oil they were going to, they
would be fished out of the try-pots and used to fuel the
fire.